Fixer upper

View north from Montville

Last Friday we drove north north east to Montville in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. A picturesque, seemingly unending string of timber buildings housing cafés, galleries, and crystal shops, nestled comfortably among trees and lush vegetation.

Estate suites building

We checked into a ground floor estate suite at Spicers Clovelly Estate Retreat. A former pineapple plantation, five minutes drive out of town.

A wet evening cleared by morning, replaced by fast moving continent sized cloud formations. Plenty of intermittent sunshine brightened the day.

Bush hut

After breakfast we ventured off to the lake lookout. Nearby, dwarfed by the surrounding trees, a seemingly ancient ramshackle bush hut stands. The timber weathered to silver grey relic is perched on poles on a cliff’s edge, commanding an uninterrupted view of Lake Baroon.

This fixer upper would make a great tiny house. An open plan single storey including a bed with a second bed in the roof space, accessed by a ladder; a little like a two storey tree house.

Lake Baroon

The one hour plus return journey took us along knee high dew laden grass filled walkways through verdant rainforest glades. At times we felt a trifle lost, following directionless signs.

The walk back

The weekend away was so relaxing, it was what we both needed.

Creative gardening solution

The orientation, overshadowing, and patio roof provide a welcome respite from the searing Queensland sun in Summer.

Our compact courtyard is challenging when it comes to choosing plants. Areas receiving photosynthesis fuel in Spring and Summer are ignored during Autumn and Winter.

The raised bed next to the spa is on its fourth bout of planting. Fingers crossed the golden cane palms will flourish with agaves and mother-in-law’s tongues.

We have run out of ground space, resulting in the need for creative alternatives. The distance between the six feet high fence and the neighbour’s house is just wide enough to accommodate the depth of a self-watering trough.

So far these pretties are enjoying a daily slot of sunshine.

Gymean perspective

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The gymea lilies haven’t started flowering in Sydney yet. I took this photograph at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, in October. I like the part they play in the perspective of this view.

Cheerful corner

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This is a glimpse of the morning sun pouring through stained glass in the door that goes to the front garden. The light is diffused as it passes through a curtain decorated with appliquéd leaves in shades of green. Combined with the wall colour, candle sticks and Cirque du Soleil painting; a warming church-like scene.

I find the term ‘drawing-room’ a trifle pretentious, however after dinner we do withdraw to this east facing, cheerful, cosy and comfortable place.

Crepe Myrtle

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Thanks to Adventures and Musings of a Hedgewitch I now know the name of the fantastic flowering trees that bring colour to our home suburb. What coincidences that the inspiration for Peace at Home is the shadow of a Crepe Myrtle tree in Winter and that I read about them for first time in Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches based in New Orleans!

The intensity of the sunshine in the pictures gives you a hint of the difference in temperature we experience in Sydney in June compared to January.

Sabre Ficus

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While enjoying the sunshine on the deck yesterday I noticed the way the light illuminated the various leaf colours of the Sabre or long leaf Ficus. I eagerly collected my camera so that I could capture the moment.

After a couple of close up shots I realised that the camera angle was all wrong. I returned to where I had been sitting on the day bed and took the picture from there.

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Hey presto I am able to share the dark green to salmon pink scene with you.

Let the sunshine in

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For the third month in a row music has provided inspiration for my response to the Bloggers for Peace challenge:

When the moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars
This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius
Age of Aquarius
Aquarius!
Aquarius!

Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelation
And the mind’s true liberation

Excerpt from Age Of Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In, a medley of two songs written for the musical Hair, released as a single by 5th Dimension in 1969. The picture was taken in Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia.

Information sources:
Song Meanings
Wikipedia